Puffiness

puff  (pf)

n.

1.

a. A short forceful exhalation of breath.

b. A short sudden gust of wind.

c. A brief sudden emission of air, vapor, or smoke.

d. A short sibilant sound produced by a puff.

2. An amount of vapor, smoke, or similar material released in a puff.

3. An act of drawing in and expelling the breath, as in smoking tobacco.

4. A swelling or rounded protuberance.

5. Puff pastry.

6. A light soft pad for applying powder or lotion.

7. A gathered, protruding portion of fabric.

8. A light padded bed covering.

9.

a. An approving or flattering recommendation.

b. A piece of writing, as on the jacket of a book, containing often exaggerated praise, used for promotional purposes.

10. Genetics A localized region of swelling in certain chromosomes indicating the active synthesis of RNA.

v. puffed, puff·ing, puffs

v.intr.

1. To blow in puffs.

2. To come forth in puffs: steam puffing from an engine.

3. To breathe forcefully and rapidly: huffed and puffed up the stairs.

4. To emit puffs.

5. To take puffs on smoking material: puffing on a cigar.

6. To swell or seem to swell, as with pride or air. Often used with up: He puffed up and glared at the importuning questioner.

v.tr.

1. To emit or give forth in puffs.

2. To impel with puffs.

3. To smoke (a cigar, for example).

4. To inflate or distend.

5. To fill with pride or conceit.

6. To publicize with often exaggerated praise: publishers who puff their new books.

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[From Middle English puffen, to puff, from Old English pyffan, perhaps of imitative origin.]

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puffi·ly adv.

puffi·ness n.

puffy adj.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	puffiness - an abnormal protuberance or localized enlargement swelling, lump spermatocele - a swelling on the epididymis or the testis; usually contains spermatozoa symptom - (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease enlargement - the state of being enlarged bloat - swelling of the rumen or intestinal tract of domestic animals caused by excessive gas bunion - a painful swelling of the bursa of the first joint of the big toe dropsy, edema, hydrops, oedema - swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities haematocele, haematocoele, hematocele, hematocoele - swelling caused by blood collecting in a body cavity (especially a swelling of the membrane covering the testis) intumescence, intumescency - swelling up with blood or other fluids (as with congestion) iridoncus - swelling of the iris of the eye lymphogranuloma - swelling of a lymph node oscheocele, oscheocoele - swelling of the scrotum tumidity, tumidness - slight swelling of an organ or part
	2.	puffiness - lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity ostentatiousness, pomposity, pompousness, pretentiousness, splashiness, ostentation, inflation inelegance - the quality of lacking refinement and good taste